Checking in on the Check-up

Abby's typical breakfast.
She always wants to feed herself.

Well, with turning one comes more shots. Abby went to the pediatrician today for her 12 month check-up. She received 5 shots in her legs. Poor thing! She was brave and didn't cry for very long. She was suppose to get another shot, but the CDC has put a hold on Hib vaccine for 12 month olds because of shortages. She will have to make that one up later. On a more positive note, Dr. Worley confirmed what we already knew..... She's perfect. She is 20 lbs and 8 oz., 30.5 inches long, and has a huge 18.75 in. cranium. She's in the 50th, 90th, and 95th percentiles respectively. We have a tall, skinny girl with a big head! :) No wonder she is so smart. She has a small patch of eczema that comes and goes at her collar bone, but it is nothing that we can't handle w/ Aveeno baths and lotion when it is bad.

I just thought you'd like the update. I am working on a post of videos of Abby "teaching" you how to do daily activities. She's a natural when it comes to teaching..... wonder where she gets it?

Baby Halle Update

Just a quick update on baby Halle. She is still in pretty critical condition. She has a blood clot in her heart. She is too tiny to do surgery to remove it. There is a shot that she can have; however, she has an infection that is keeping her from this as well. She did gain weight; she got up to 15 oz. She has lost some of that weight. The doctors said it was mostly fluid weight. They are glad that she has a lost some because that means her kidneys are working and doing what they are suppose to do. Hopefully, this will help flush out the infection and she will be able to get the much needed shot. The docs at UT are working with specialists in Canada to get the best help for Halle. Please continue to pray for this sweet child, her parents, family, nurses, and doctors.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Abby!

Abby is officially one today! It has been a beautiful day with sunny skies and fluffy clouds. I took Abby for a couple of walks, which she really enjoyed. It is really hard to believe it has been a year. She has changed so much. We have loved every minute of the past year, even the rough minutes. It is amazing how someone so small and helpless can teach you so many things. Happy Birthday to our sweet, sweet girl. We love you for always.

After a rough morning one year ago.

What a difference a year makes!
This was Abby vs. icing Part Deux.
(She had an iced cookie after her birthday dinner.)

Went to a Garden Party!

Today was Abby's birthday party. We decided to have it the Saturday before her actual birthday so more people could help her celebrate. . . and celebrate we did. The original idea was to have the party outdoors in our church's pavilion that has a playground next to it; however, it was a wet, dreary day. So, plan B was put into play. We moved the festivities to the fellowship hall. It worked out wonderfully! There was a nursery full of fun toys, a kitchen for quick clean ups and food prep, and bathrooms nearby. We had plenty of rooms for the kids to play and the adults to do whatever it is we adults do at birthday parties. I'm pretty tired , so forgive me if I make some mistakes. I'll try to catch them after I get some rest. Until then, I thought I would give you a glimpse into our celebration!

We spent Friday preparing so we could have more energy for Abby on Saturday. Aunt Tiffany and Baby Ben arrived around lunch to drop off baking and icing supplies. Then, we loaded the babies to meet Trevor, a old family friend and youth pastor at our church, to decorate. I truly don't know how I could have done it without them. (HUGE thanks, you guys!) Then, it was back home to decorate cakes.

Here is the welcome table, for lack of a better name.
We put the guests' loot bags and birthday bubbles on it.
Everyone signed the mat for Abby's birthday picture
to hang in her room.

Here's one set of tables for the party guests.


Here is the cake and cupcakes.
Although they look like aliens,
the cupcakes are suppose to be ladybugs.


As is tradition in our families, Abby got her own
cake to destroy.


Here is a good before shot.

Here's the after shot.

We were especially blessed to have many friends and family at the party. Our Aunt Paula and Uncle Kenneth came up from Georgia to surprise us! It was great to see them. Our friends Susie and Steve Loope were thankfully able to come. Uncle Tom, Ethan, Aleigh, and Mathew were also there to help us celebrate. The whole Roberts clan came and helped us eat cake and play. Thank you to everyone who made time to help us celebrate. We hope you had fun!

Emma, Abby, and Lili had loads of fun in one of the
beds in the nursery! It was hard to convince them to get out!


Uncle Tom and Ethan give Abby pointers on cake eating!


Poor Atticus (Steve Loope's nickname)! He had to leave before
Abby got hyped up on sugar icing. Here she has no clue what's going
on and is beyond sleepy! We have promised to visit him when
she is happier. We love you, Atticus and Susie!


Talmadge was tired, but was a trooper!
He loved playing with baloons, and
we loved watching him!


Uncle Mike and Ben even found some time to
enjoy some butterfly cake. Ben was so
excited to try the cake. He's such a cutie!


Grammy and Gramps were convinced to play in
the nursery by the birthday girl.
It didn't take too much arm twisting!

Abby had plenty of fun herself. . .

I know this is blurry, but I love the look
on her face. She had lots of fun.

She was more of a "one piece at a time" kind of girl, rather
than a "dig in" kind. She liked sticking her fingers in the
cake and squishing it!

We're still not sure whether she likes the

cake or balloons more.

Okay, so she may have liked the balloons more.
Here she is chilling out at home and looking
through some cards after a nap.
(The blanket you made her rocks, MacKenzie! Thanks!)

We had a wonderful day! Now, it is just getting things organized from making cakes and all the cool new toys we have. Abby is fighting sleep right now as I type. I think she is still pretty excited. I'm going to try to calm her down. Wish me luck.

Prayer Request

We have friend who has asked prayer for her niece's family. Her niece gave birth to a 9 oz, 9 inch baby girl earlier this week. She delivered over 3 months early. Baby Halle is doing as well as can be expected. Her heart is strong and her lungs are good. They have her on a ventilator even though she is trying to breath on her own because they don't want to exhaust her. Just to give an idea of how tiny and fragile Halle is: she wears a cotton ball for a diaper and her father's fingertip covers her entire palm. Please pray for the Ausmus family. I will try to keep you updated as I get them.

UPDATE:
Baby Halle is doing well. She is now 12 oz. She has had a few blood transfusions and may still be at risk for a blood clot. Since she was born at 22 weeks, she had not opened her eyes yet; however, the doctors told her parents that she may have them open in the next couple of days. Please continue to remember this family in your prayers.

Spring Has Sprung

Abby has been mesmerized lately by all of the blooming flowers, green grass, and sunny skies. This has warranted daily walks, if even just around the yard. One day, we even went to Lowe's Garden Center to see the pretty flowers. She loved them but was more interested in the fountains. (She has discovered water faucets, too!) Here are some pictures from our adventures in the yard yesterday. The weather gurus are calling for a cold weekend, and we are really hoping that the blooms survive.

She loved the irises that are growing next to the house.


She kept going back to our one tulip.
She loved to feel the petals.


Here is our apple tree finally in bloom.
Last year the frost got it. We are hoping
that this year will be different.


Abby couldn't get enough of being outside,
so we waited for Daddy under our trees in the front yard.


She seemed scared to put her head down when she fell
backwards. She finally came around to it and it was
hard to get her to sit up again.

No Excuses

I will not offer any excuses this time as to why I haven't posted in a while. We have been really busy trying new things. There seems to be something new everyday. Abby has become Miss Independent lately. She wants to do it all herself- eating, drinking, walking, you name it. As I post this, she is watching the neighborhood via the front door. This is what she will do until Daddy gets home from work. Then, it is "Mommy who?" In a way this breaks my heart, but it is also really fun to watch her grow and learn new things. She seems to be a little sponge. I leave you with a few pictures of some of recent adventures.

"I'm getting good at this!"

She's so proud of the messes she makes.

Abby has spent a lot of time coloring lately.


. . .and figuring out if she's left or right handed. :)

Here's one for the boyfriends.
Did we mention that her hair
has recently had a growth spurt of its own?!?